Earlier this year we launched a feature in the Google Maps API v3 that renders data stored in Fusion Tables, a Google Research project for storing large structured data sets in the cloud, which has an SQL based API, and recently gained support for spatial queries. The response both at developer events and online has been overwhelmingly positive. We have seen an explosion of compelling Maps applications that use Fusion Tables to store and visualise data.

Given this developer enthusiasm, and the fact that Fusion Tables addresses many of the features requested by developers for the Maps Data API, we have decided to recommend Fusion Tables as our cloud storage solution of choice for geospatial data going forward, and to deprecate the Maps Data API.

The one question is Google My Maps, the feature that lets anyone add locations to a map and share it with others. When the tool launched in 2007, we said the maps mashup landscape changed forever. Indeed, it still allows non-developers to easily edit locations visually. However, it also allowed developers to access the data via the soon-to-be-deprecated Google Maps Data API.

While Google has provided a way to download or transfer My Maps to Fusion Tables, it is not clear whether there will be a permanent connection between the two services. Fusion Tables does provide a simple table editing interface, which is a far cry from the simplicity of point-and-click.

About the author:Adam DuVander
The former ProgrammableWeb Executive Editor, Adam is an API expert now helping regular people connect them at Zapier. Previously he worked at API companies SendGrid and Orchestrate, and wrote for Wired and Webmonkey. Adam is also the author of mapping API cookbook Map Scripting 101. Find him at AdamD.org.

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